Blizzard Warning issued March 18 at 4:08AM CDT until March 19 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN

…HEAVY SNOW AND STRONG WINDS LIKELY ON WEDNESDAY WITH BLIZZARD
CONDITIONS EXPECTED ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA…

.A band of heavy snow will develop across the region early Wednesday
morning and last through Wednesday evening. This will start as rain,
and quickly transition to a heavy, wet snow, with snowfall rates of
an inch per hour or greater at times. Amounts around 4 to 9 inches
are expected under the axis of heaviest snow, with isolated pockets
up to a foot possible.

In addition to the heavy snow, northerly winds of 30 to 40 mph will
develop causing blowing and drifting snow. In south central
Minnesota, wind gusts could exceed 45 mph, which could lead to
whiteout conditions. A Blizzard Warning has been issued in areas
where there is high confidence of heavy snowfall and significant
blowing snow impacts.

There will likely be a very tight gradient of snowfall amounts on
the northwestern edge of the system. A Winter Weather Advisory was
issued to cover the threat of lesser accumulations and blowing snow
impacts. For the same reason, the southern extent of the Twin Cities
metro and western Wisconsin remain in a Winter Storm Watch due to
uncertainty in where the main band of heavy snow will develop.

* WHAT…Blizzard conditions expected. Total snow accumulations
between 4 and 9 inches. Winds gusting as high as 50 mph.

* WHERE…Blue Earth, Brown, Faribault, Freeborn, Le Sueur, Martin,
Nicollet, Rice, Steele, Waseca, Watonwan, and Goodhue Counties.

* WHEN…From 5 AM to 7 PM CDT Wednesday.

* IMPACTS…Whiteout conditions are expected and will make travel
treacherous and potentially life-threatening. Travel could be very
difficult. Widespread blowing snow could significantly reduce
visibility. The hazardous conditions could impact the Wednesday
morning and evening commutes. Strong winds could cause extensive
damage to trees and power lines.